Stop Nighttime Meowing In Apartment

I have a healthy 12-year-old cat. Lately she’s meowing more at night. I’m not active enough in the evening and in turn then she isn’t. In addition to later feeding and play time, I know ignoring her nighttime meowing is most important. However, I live in an apartment with thin walls and neighbors on both sides. I don’t want her waking them so I get out of bed and give her attention, but then I try to go back to bed and she starts all over again. Does anyone have suggestions for someone living in an apartment and dealing with this?

Is she meowing for food or cognitive decline or hyperthyroid or.., has she been checked by the vet that there isn’t a medical reason behind this before going down the behavioral reasons rabbit hole?

She isn’t acting any differently other than more meowing- eating, playing, using litter box as usual. It could be my behavior influencing her. I could also have her checked by vet.

Does she sleep with you at night? When she meows where is she and what is she doing?

I’m upstairs in my bedroom. She’s downstairs in living room. She has lots of toys including a flying, fluttering butterfly I keep turned on. My door is open if she wants to come in. She just seems to me to be lonely and sometimes comes up, but mostly stays downstairs and wants me to come down.

Can you bring her up to sleep with you? It seems like the older my cats get the more they miss me. Even if I'm just around the corner my cat Maggie meows for me. If she's napping in the living room she will get up,walk over to me and meow. After talking to her she sits back down. As kittens they mostly stayed in the living room where all their toys are. Now that their adult, they like wand toys

It’s worth a try. Thanks.

Worriedkittymom said:

It’s worth a try. Thanks.

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I agree with maggie101 ...my 11 yr old cat does same thing..follows me around in daytime...n meows n whines loudly...until I say its alright Snowball...its alright..that goes on when hes awake n daytime...at night...I bring him in my room.
And he sleeps on my bed...with me...he likes to sleep on top of the covers...right up next to me...he does wake up in the night couple of times..meowing at my bed..after he gets down to eat a bit of dry food n get little water..I leave in my bedroom for him at night...not alot of dry food..just a bit... I will say its alright Snowball...its alright..and he is ok.....hes lonely..he misses me when hes up n im NOT...he then jumps on bed n goes.back to sleep..Now in the morning...at time to get up hes like an alarm clock...he starts meowing n gets louder...at that point..im ready to get up for the day...So basically...I feel as a cat gets older ....their sleeping pattern starts to get mixed up...n they get more lonely for THEIR master NOT another cat...and their minds arent as sharp...so yea it could be feline dementia....via another name im sure...And I live in an apt...also...thin walls...I imagine.....neighbors can hear him...at times...but I dont think they can hear him ..that well...cause its a CAT...not a person yelling...and of course I hear my neighbors....but Im in a apt...so I ignore it...and so its like if u hear them...n they hear u n ure cat...nobody is likely to complain because everyone hears everyone...But let me say NO I can't hear exactly per say a full conversation....but in a apt with thin walls..u can hear bits n pieces....Ive been here almost 12 yrs in October of this yr....so im kinda used to normal noises...n so is my CAT....even though he jumps at some noise..hes getting older..If ure VET like my VET has ruled out illnesses...then its justure kitty is experiencing old age..just like humans...

Worriedkittymom said:

It’s worth a try. Thanks.

Click to expand...

I agree with maggie101 ...my 11 yr old cat does same thing..follows me around in daytime...n meows n whines loudly...until I say its alright Snowball...its alright..that goes on when hes awake n daytime...at night...I bring him in my room.
And he sleeps on my bed...with me...he likes to sleep on top of the covers...right up next to me...he does wake up in the night couple of times..meowing at my bed..after he gets down to eat a bit of dry food n get little water..I leave in my bedroom for him at night...not alot of dry food..just a bit... I will say its alright Snowball...its alright..and he is ok.....hes lonely..he misses me when hes up n im NOT...he then jumps on bed n goes.back to sleep..Now in the morning...at time to get up hes like an alarm clock...he starts meowing n gets louder...at that point..im ready to get up for the day...So basically...I feel as a cat gets older ....their sleeping pattern starts to get mixed up...n they get more lonely for THEIR master NOT another cat...and their minds arent as sharp...so yea it could be feline dementia....via another name im sure...And I live in an apt...also...thin walls...I imagine.....neighbors can hear him...at times...but I dont think they can hear him ..that well...cause its a CAT...not a person yelling...and of course I hear my neighbors....but Im in a apt...so I ignore it...and so its like if u hear them...n they hear u n ure cat...nobody is likely to complain because everyone hears everyone...But let me say NO I can't hear exactly per say a full conversation....but in a apt with thin walls..u can hear bits n pieces....Ive been here almost 12 yrs in October of this yr....so im kinda used to normal noises...n so is my CAT....even though he jumps at some noise..hes getting older..If ure VET like my VET has ruled out illnesses...then its justure kitty is experiencing old age..just like humans...

Sorry dont KNOW how it happened but looks like my reply showed up 2or 3 times..n I only replied once...

Worriedkittymom said:

I’m upstairs in my bedroom. She’s downstairs in living room. She has lots of toys including a flying, fluttering butterfly I keep turned on. My door is open if she wants to come in. She just seems to me to be lonely and sometimes comes up, but mostly stays downstairs and wants me to come down.

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Sounds just like my boy Snowball

There are tips here: How To Stop My Cat From Waking Me Up At Night (step-by-step Plan)

CatLover49 said:

Sorry dont KNOW how it happened but looks like my reply showed up 2or 3 times..n I only replied once...

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Been there. Done that!